The Town Church

• Vince Black
• Jul 6, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

I grew to love pastoral ministry and the local church when I was a pastor in North Dakota. I worked with and learned under a godly man at the church where I served. My wife and I also had a desire to be involved in missions to some extent but we weren't sure that we felt called to go overseas. During our five years in North Dakota we began a process of seeking God's desire for our long-term future. I had some connections to a few guys at The Journey in St. Louis and had grown to respect Acts 29 and their desire to plant gospel-centered, missional churches. I began talking to the elders at our church in ND and asked them if they saw church planting as a potential gift of mine. They all agreed I should pursue the possibilities. I went to the boot camp in St. Louis in 2008 and met a great group of guys. I remember sitting in the final session of the boot camp thinking - this is it. Planting a church in North America combined my desire to be in pastoral ministry in the local church with the leap of faith that missions required. Many things added up to solidify the calling to plant. My wife and I talked about it and she was excited about the idea. The elders at our church affirmed our decision and direction. The church we were at decided to stand behind us as sending church. Many little steps along the way affirmed my desire and calling to plant.

How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage? 

We built our core in a very organic way. Meaning - we began by meeting one couple who met one couple who met another couple who had friends who knew of people and so on and on. In our first months in Fort Collins we had parties at our house every month just to get to know people. Many of the people who are in our core now came because of someone else in the core.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

The most significant challenge has been the lack of commitment we've seen in the younger generations as well as our culture in general. Community with a body of believers is secondary at best to many people in Fort Collins. They say they desire community but only if it fits into their time in the mountains. A general lack of commitment has been are most significant hurdle.

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I got involved with Acts 29 through friends who were on staff at The Journey in St. Louis.

The most significant benefits of being in the network have been the brotherhood of other like-minded pastors. The strong theology that unifies the men I've met is foundational - and I believe this aspect of the network is the same reason so many people are looking to be involved in Acts 29 churches.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

Make sure you are called to plant and pastor a church - not just one or the other.

Make sure your wife is willing to endure the challenge with you.

As much as is possible, establish a solid relationship with a sending church who will be a foundational support to you and your church.

How do you pastor your family? 

I pastor my family by God's grace. I do what I know to do to love my wife as Christ loved the church. I pray for and with my wife on a daily basis. We have a weekly date night where we discuss the joys and trials of the previous week. My relationship with my wife is primary in our family. I want my sons to see, although they are very important, their mom is my treasure.

The way that I pastor our four sons is to treat them as individuals and try, by the grace of God, to work with them on each of their sin tendencies - pointing them to the gospel. We read the bible together every morning at breakfast and discuss how God is in every passage. After we read we all pray and ask God to work in us to help us to battle a certain sin for the day.

In the evenings before bed we read through a story book bible (Jesus Storybook Bible, The Big Picture). After discussing the story we spend some time thanking God for the things we saw him do during that day. In every way I know how, I weave the gospel through all of life and intentionally through those two times during the day.

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?

Planting Missional Churches - Ed Stetzer

How can we pray for you? 

Please pray that I would see people as people and not projects or numbers and that I would make the most of every opportunity to speak and live the gospel of Jesus Christ in my family, church and neighborhood.

Church Profile: The Town Church
Launch Date: May 1, 2010
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

The Town Church worships God in community - loving others, engaging the culture, and seeking to transform lives with the gospel of Jesus.

We gather on Sunday evenings at 4 PM at Peak Community Church.

What is your philosophy of community in your church and what does that look like practically in your church? Of evangelism? 

A Christian community has two elements that seem to be essential. First, you must have relationships with one another and second, you must be united around a shared truth - in this case, the gospel.

Practically the way this works out in our church is that we do all we can to live life together. We share meals together on a weekly basis. We serve one another. We serve with one another. We pray with each other. We worship God together. I have called our church to shape their weekly schedule around building community and adding to the numbers of those who are in the community.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

God is pouring out grace on me in that He is granting me much faith. I don't say that as a proud statement. My family has faced some trials this year and God has been faithful in granting me the gift of faith. To God be the glory.